HELEN’S 

CHOICE 


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Helen’s Choice 


A Tale of Long Island. 


BY 


METTA HOETON COOK, 

Author of Yennycott Folks/' 


Copyright, 1913, by 
J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company. 


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New Yo]^k: 

J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO., 
57 Rose Street. 




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CONTENTS 


CHAFTEB PAGE 



Introduction . . . 

5 

I. 

Happenings . . . 

9 

II. 

At Home .... 

19 

III. 

The Parting . 

30 

IV. 

Disappearance 

37 

V. 

A Finding .... 

41 

VI. 

Timely Words . . 

58 

VII. 

Disclosures 

67 

VIII. 

The Return . 

72 

IX. 

Found 

83 

X. 

A Glad Christmas . 

95 




INTRODUCTION 

The facts of this story were told 
me one summer morning by a lov- 
able old woman. She lived in a 
little unpainted house on a coun- 
try road, where I stopped to get a 
drink from the old-fashioned well. 
I was invited into her sitting-room, 
fragrant with honeysuckle from 
the vine-shaded, open windows. It 
was a restful room in appearance; 
the home-made rag-carpet of well- 

blended colors, a little mahogany 
5 


6 0 INTRODUCTION 

table in the middle of the floor 
with a glass of roses in the center, 
hooks and papers strewn over its 
rounded leaves; the hair-cloth sofa, 
long and wide, held inviting pil- 
lows of home- wrought design; old- 
style chairs seemed so persuasive 
with old-time hospitality, I could 
not resist the inclination to stop 
a while, and, too, from the wall, 
portraits of kindly faces smiled a 
welcome only outvied hy the genial 
countenance of my hostess. 

I “Please tell me about her,” I 
urged, seating myself opposite the 
most attractive picture and look- 


INTRODUCTION 7 


ing at it with fixed attention. It 
was a heart-affecting face of one 
in life-long perplexity. The eyes 
were full of soft tenderness, lips 
of child-like affection, and an ex- 
pression of refinement pervaded 
every feature. 

“That’s my grandmother,” she 
replied. 

“Do tell me about her,” I 
pleaded. 

In quaint phrases and simple 
words of inimitable eloquence, she 
told me incidents of that life whose 
image to the mind one could not 
easily lose. 


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4 



HELEN’S CHOICE 

I 

HAPPENINGS 

More than a hundred years ago, 
Jennie Mott was a belle in fash- 
ionable society of “Olde New 
York.” 

Among her admirers was Cap- 
tain Vogel, a large man with heavy 
features, his square-set chin adding 
to the determined look of his face, 
which showed he would brook no 
thwarting of wish or plan. 

At their summer home on Long 
9 


10 HELEN’S CHOICE 


Island, the Mott family while hng- 
ering at the breakfast table heard 
a carriage come round the drive- 
way and stop at the front door. 

“It’s Captain Vogel,” said Mr. 
Mott, rising to greet him at the 
door. 

“Glad to see you. Captain. 
Come right in the dining-room and 
have a cup of coffee. When did 
you arrive in New York?” 

“Just two days ago. I had a 
little spare time, so I thought I’d 
take the stage through the island 
and make you a call.” 

After some time in lively con- 


HELEN’S CHOICE 11 


yersation, Captain Vogel invited 
Jennie to take a ride. 

“This horse I got at the inn is 
more noted for safety than speed, 
I judge,” said the Captain as they 
entered the carriage. “Which way 
would you like to drive?” 

“I would enjoy going for some 
pond-lilies,” Jennie suggested. 

They drove along a quiet road, 
passing now and then a farm- 
house, till they came to a pond sur- 
rounded by trees, its water dotted 
with lilies, for the tall, brown stems 
had put on their bonnets of white 
and gold and peeped gracefully 


12 HELEN’S CHOICE 

over the water to see them- 
selves. 

“We’ll drive into the pond a lit- 
tle way and I’ll stand on the step 
of the carriage and get some lilies 
for you,” the Captain remarked as 
they neared the edge. He deftly 
urged the horse farther and farther 
in the water till the animal sud- 
denly plunged into a hollow place 
above its knees in mud, while the 
carriage wheels were planted firm- 
ly over the hub in mire. 

“Mud and misery,” ejaculated 
the vexed man. “I cannot get out 
and ruin my suit, for who in this 


HELEN’S CHOICE 13 


little town is six feet two; so I 
eould neither beg nor borrow. 
Zounds! what are we going to do?” 
he added, jerking the reins vigor- 
ously. The horse looked around 
inquiringly. 

“I don’t see as we can do any- 
thing but wait till somebody comes 
along that owns one of the row- 
boats and has the key.” 

“This is a great predicament!” 
he continued, impatiently. 

Jennie gave vent to her smoth- 
ered feelings in such merriment, 
its effect dispelled the Captain’s 
ill-nature. 


14 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“We must be going fast,” he 
remarked, “no one has passed 
us.” 

Restored in a measure to good 
humor he began telling about his 
last voyage and the places of inter- 
est he visited. 

“The fact is,” he resumed after 
a little pause — “the fact is,” he 
repeated, “I’m about ready to 
settle down now. My financial 
success has been greater than I ex- 
pected, and I feel as if I should 
like to have a home of my own. 
It’s my latest ambition to build a 
handsome home, furnish it in good 


HELEN’S CHOICE 15 


taste and, — and, — ^who do you 
think I’d like to place in it?” 

“I can’t imagine.” 

‘‘Guess!” 

“I never was good at guessing, 
and this would prove no excep- 
tion.” 

“Why it’s you, little girl!” he 
smiled, looking down at her face. 

“You surprise me very much. 
Captain Vogel. I have always re- 
garded you as the son of my fath- 
er’s old-time friend, and I could 
not do otherwise.” 

“Don’t you think you could 
learn to love me?” he urged. 


16 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“No; I feel sure. Please say no 
more about it.” 

“Perhaps Henry Harvey stands 
in my way,” he muttered. “I 
never liked that stripling. There’s 
an old grudge between us.” 

After an embarrassing silence 
of several minutes that seemed like 
hours, two men with oars came in 
sight. The Captain rose, and, 
swinging his hat, frantically shout- 
ed: “Hey! Hajlo! Hallo!” The 
men looked up, taking in the ludi- 
crous situation at once, and quick- 
ened their pace toward the unfor- 
tunate couple in their water prison. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 17 


“We’ve made neither headway 
nor sternway for hours!” called 
Captain Vogel. 

“We’ll try to get you under way 
then,” answered one of the men. 

“Can you slip mud moorings?” 

“Aye, aye, sir!” was the answer. 

Each man took a separate boat, 
untying it from its post, unlocked 
it and paddled out to the waiting 
pair. One pulled the horse by the 
bridle, while the other pushed the 
wheels, and after considerable 
effort they got out of their diffi- 
culty. The animal looked un- 
speakable thanks from big grate- 


18 HELEN’S CHOICE 


ful eyes ; the Captain slipped a bill 
in the hand of each benefactor, and 
Jennie thanked them graciously. 
Then the carriage turned home- 
ward. 

Mr. Mott’s invitation to stay to 
dinner was declined by Captain 
Vogel, who drove away, chagrined 
and surprised that money could 
not buy a girl’s affection. 


II 

AT HOME 

“What a pretty home! Every- 
thing that heart could wish, and 
all arranged with artistic careful- 
ness,” exclaimed Miss Huldah 
Verity, as she sat down in a com- 
fortable chair and glanced round 
the cosy parlor with an air of sat- 
isfaction. The words she ex- 
pressed generally agreed with her 
thoughts. Whether they would 
please or hurt, she never stopped 
to consider, but rather took pride 
in frankness of speech. 

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20 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“I’m glad you like it, we do,” 
answered Jennie. “I am eager to 
have you meet my husband. I 
think he will please you, and your 
fastidious ideas will find little to 
critieize. He is refined and dig- 
nified, and everything that’s nice.” 

“ ‘Nice’ was a comprehensive 
word with us schoolgirls when we 
discussed the boys, wasn’t it?” 

“Yes, indeed. What good times 
we used to have together. I am 
delighted to have you visit me; 
you must stay as long as you pos- 
sibly can, for Henry enjoys com- 
pany as much as I do.” 


HELEN’S CHOICE 21 


“Do try my piano, Huldah, 
it’s a long time since I heard you 
play. Steinweh make, you see; I 
like it best of any.” 

Miss Verity ran her fingers over 
the keys skillfully and struck a 
few chords, remarking, “I, too, 
just love the Steinweh tone. 
What a pile of music! Of course 
I can look it over. Mostly duets 
and tenor songs. Your husband 
sings I infer.” 

“Yes, he has a smooth, sympa- 
thetic voice of exquisite quality 
and sings with such nice percep- 
tion. I guess that’s why I mar- 


22 HELEN’S CHOICE 


ried him. Every evening, unless 
sve go out, after the paper is read, 
\ve spend the rest of the time sing- 
ing.” 

“You seem so happy in your 
married life, Jennie. It makes me 
inclined to hasten the date of my 
wedding day. But who is this 
coming?” 

Going toward the window they 
saw three men approaching the 
door with slow movement, and the 
middle man was supported on each 
side by the two others. 

“Oh, it’s my husband!” cried 
Jennie, running to open the door. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 23 

“What is the matter?” she 
sobbed excitedly. 

“Do not be frightened, madam. 
Your husband was not able to 
come home alone, but he will be 
all right by morning. With your 
permission we’ll assist him to his 
room.” 

“Do get the doctor here as 
quickly as possible,” she begged. 

When the physician came he 
assured the anxious wife there was 
no cause for alarm, saying, as he 
took his leave, “Just let him sleep, 
he will come out all right.” 

All night long the two women 


24 HELEN’S CHOICE 


watched by the bedside of the 
moaning, raving man as he tossed 
from one side to the other in 
delirium. 

“I think he is coming down with 
brain fever, Huldah; I’m afraid 
the doctor doesn’t understand.” 

“I’m afraid you don’t under- 
stand, Jennie. Don’t you see he is 
intoxieated?” 

“Why, Huldah, I am shocked 
you should think such a thing and 
surprised that you dare say it. 
You do not know my husband!” 

“Well, I know what drunken- 
ness is, for I’ve seen my brother in 


HELEN’S CHOICE 25 

that condition more than once. 
Drink has robbed him of all that 
was good and true.” 

“I am very sorry to learn this 
of your brother. How little we 
know the secret heart sorrows of 
another,” lamented the woe- 
stricken wife. “To think this is 
the way you should meet my hus- 
band! I was so proud of him.” 

“Since this has happened, Jen- 
nie, I think I’d better go away 
early in the morning, and visit you 
at some other time. It is better 
that you two should meet this 
great sorrow alone together.” 


26 HELEN’S CHOICE 


Mr. Harvey came down late to 
breakfast after Huldah had gone, 
hastily drank a cup of coffee and 
hurried off to business. 

Jennie was mute with grief. 
Only a year of happy wedded life, 
and then this dreadful revelation, 
just as she needed most the in- 
fluence of a husband’s sustaining 
strength and sympathy, when she 
felt most the need of loving ten- 
derness* and thoughtful care. 
Days that followed were full of 
anxiety to the saddened heart. 
Later and later he returned at 
night with unsteady step. All 


HELEN’S CHOICE 27 


through the long and lonely even- 
ing hours the sorrowful wife would 
pace the floor with hands tight 
clenched, as if to nerve her waning 
strength for whatever might hap- 
pen at his coming, while hot tears 
bathed the fevered cheeks and 
blinded the waiting eyes as every 
little while she would go peer out 
in the darkness of night and look, 
— and linger, — and listen. When 
he did come, it was no longer a 
love-lit smile, affectionate words 
and gentle caress that gave her 
greeting, but blood-shot eyes from 
a bloated face met hers with 


28 HELEN’S CHOICE 


vacant stare, and if he talked at 
all it was in language vulgar and 
profane, for the brain was crazed 
with drink. Then he stayed away 
for weeks and months, while ever 
in her thoughts by day and 
through her dreams at night was 
the haunting image of her hus- 
band, a captive held by strong 
drink, the combination of a beast 
and demon. On and on through 
anxious days and wakeful nights 
she suffered weary pain, while her 
mind was full of dread forebod- 
ings about her husband, and, too. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 29 


lest his influence in some way 
might affect her unborn child. 

When the time of agony came, 
and brave endurance failed, and 
life was almost gone, a little help- 
less, feeble cry brought back the 
soul to consciousness, and when 
they laid the fragile, tender form 
within her arms, nestling soft and 
warm close to her breast, she kissed 
its little face, and prayed they 
both might die. 


Ill 

THE PARTING 

'A week passed while the way- 
worn life yet lingered, and the 
spirit seemed hovering between 
time and eternity. 

The rays of the setting sun 
shone through the western window 
as the nurse entered the sick room, 
and in a tone of trained composure 
roused her patient from lethargy. 

“Mrs. Harvey, your husband 
has just come in; he will sail for the 
West Indies to-morrow morning, 
and he wants to speak with you 
30 


HELEN’S CHOICE 31 


before be goes. I have told him he 
must stay only a few minutes. 
Try to keep calm.” 

As she left, Mr. Harvey, pale 
and haggard, entered with soft 
tread and kneeled by the bedside 
in silence. His wife opened her 
eyes and with a sad smile placed 
the tiny hand of the baby in his. 
Close to his bowed face he held it, 
and hers too, with a firm grasp, 
bathing them with tears of peni- 
tence. 

“Oh, Jennie! If you could 
know the sorrow and shame I 
feel!” he said, falteringly. “I have 


32 HELEN’S CHOICE 


staid away because I knew you 
should not see me in my drunken 
condition. I thought I had con- 
quered my desire for drink or I 
would never have married you. 
But when I found your money I 
had urged you to put in my busi- 
ness was gone, and the investment 
a failure, my nerves were all un- 
strung, so I took a drink to brace 
me up. That one glass roused the 
old desire for stimulant, and I 
drank, and drank again. My 
thirst grew more and more and 
burned me through and through. 
If you could know how I have 


HELEN’S CHOICE 33 

struggled to stop, I’m sure you 
would forgive me. Money and 
manhood are lost. The only thing 
I can find to do is to sail for the 
West Indies, so I came to say 
good-bye. Can you give me one 
word of love? I feel so weak. I 
cannot tell how weak. I have no 
strength of will to break oif this 
dreadful habit. I want to do 
what’s right, Jennie, but, if I fail, 
remember what was good in me, 
and do forget the rest.” 

“God loves the souls of men. 
He is ready to forgive and help. 


34 HELEN’S CHOICE 


Try once more for the sake of our 
baby.” 

She was too feeble to whisper 
more. He laid his cheek by hers 
for a moment and their tears 
were mingled; he kissed her fore- 
head, pressed the baby fingers 
to his lips, then quietly left the 
room. 

The young mother and little 
baby were alone. 

Slow running weeks passed on 
to months, and long remaining 
months went into years; but no 
message did they bring from him 
she had trusted with her happiness. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 35 


in all the warmth of young and 
ardent faith. 

It is a bitter disappointment for 
a woman to diseover that the chief 
relation in life has been a mistake. 
A man does not feel it so keenly, 
for love with him is only a part 
of life ; to a woman, it is the whole 
of it. 

What compensation has this 
world to offer for perished hope! 
When in grief, the soul bends over 
buried Honor, and Truth, and 
Trust; no funeral train of kindly 
friends, no flowers, no ritual lend 
tribute of consolation, no chant- 


36 HELEN’S CHOICE 


ing choir with music low and sweet 
to break the awful stillness. By 
this deep grave in the heart the 
mourner sheds sorrowful tears, — 
in silence, — alone. 




DISAPPEAHANCE 

Helen, as the baby was called, 
grew with the weeks more and 
more companionable to her 
mother. Her childish prattle all 
through the day was an untiring 
diversion, and at night, as the little 
voice chimed in the lullaby, the 
touch of baby fingers falling 
lightly on her face was soothing 
and restful. 

One Sunday when Mrs. Harvey 
returned from church she found 


37 


38 HELEN’S CHOICE 


Chloe, the maid, in a condition of 
great excitement. 

“Why are you crying so, Chloe? 
What is the matter?” 

“Oh, Missus Harvey, I’se got 
mah wirk done, an’ put baby in 
her li’l carriage on the porch, an’ 
she et her bread an’ milk as ef she 
was reel hungry. Then the li’l 
thing goes fas’ asleep lookin’ lak 
she wuz an angel. I finds mah 
sunbonnet an’ goes makin’ traeks 
for home to git mah new dress 
mammy dun finish las’ night. I 
knowed right well I could git back 
’fore baby woke up, but I runned 


HELEN’S CHOICE 39 


right smart cornin’ back, and I 
went a lookin’ all roun’ for baby. 
It cert’ny is cur’us whar baby’s 
gone!” 

“Gone!” exclaimed Mrs. Har- 
vey in dismay. 

Chloe kept sobbing convulsively 
in unrestrained excitement. 

“My baby gone! Where?” 

The startling news soon spread. 
All the people made search every- 
where, that day and continuously, 
but no clew could be discovered of 
the missing child. 

It was a desolate house, indeed. 
At the close of tedious, dreary 


40 HELEN’S CHOICE 


days, when she went to her room 
at night, only to see an unused pil- 
low by hers, and the empty crib, 
she would take the picture of her 
little girl and talk to it, saying 
over and over: 

“Oh, my little girl, if only I 
might know that you are safe in 
heaven! If I had seen your little 
form laid in the grave where I 
should go and strew fresh flowers, 
I think I could be reconciled. But 
this terrible suspense, how can I 
longer endure? My aching heart 
is lonely, — ^lonely while it waits.” 


.Vi 

A FINDING 

“What hez he got now, I wun- 
der!” exclaimed old Molly Dooley. 

She stood in the narrow door 
of a little hut, her sun-browned 
hand shading the squinted eyes 
as she looked over the sandy beach 
toward the water. “What hez he 
got now do you s’pose. Watch; 
go an’ meet your master.” 

The dog gave a quick bark as 
he started on a run toward a man 
coming slowly with a big bundle 
of something in his arms. 

41 


42 HELEN’S CHOICE 


'‘‘What hev you got there. Bill?” 
she called, as she went to meet 
him. 

“What you s’pose, Molly? Jes’ 
look a-here!” 

He laid the bundle down on the 
beach, untied the corners of a 
rough sailor blanket, and what did 
Molly see but a pretty little girl, 
her flaxen curls straying from a 
white bonnet, and underneath a 
pink cape with a pink silk-quilted 
lining, a white dress, lace-trimmed 
skirt, dainty shoes and stockings, 
and all the clothes showing care 
and refinement. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 43 


“Where on airth did you git 
her?” she said, examining the fine 
clothes. 

“Why a man cum along and 
sez he: ‘I’m goin’ to lay this young 
un’ down here on the sand while 
I go in the channel and dig a mess 
o’ clams.’ Sez I, ‘Whar’d she cum 
frum?’ an’ sez he, ‘Its mammy 
died aboard ship on the voyage, 
an’ I’m goin’ to take her to New 
York an’ put her in some orfun 
asylum.’ ” 

“ ‘She’s a purty lookin’ young 
un,’ sez I.” 

“Well, he went off a clammin’, 


44 HELEN’S CHOICE 

an’ ’fore I knowed it that feller 
was nowhar’ to be seen. Ef yew 
say so, le’s keep it, Molly. She 
mus’ be ’bout as ole as our July 
Ann wuz when she died nigh on 
tew, sixty year ago, I guess,” he 
mused, drawing his shirt sleeve 
across his eyes. 

“No ’taint. Bill! Not so much 
as that,” corrected his wife, bring- 
ing the corner of her blue and 
white check apron to her face. 

“I should ’a’ thort that air cap’n 
could ’a’ found out somehow by 
her mother’s things whar the little 
critter orter be.” 


HELEN’S CHOICE 45 


“Well, shel I take her along to 
the house? She seems to be pretty- 
sound asleep.” 

He leaned down and gently 
took up the child. 

“Give ’er tew me, Bill; men 
folks dunno how to handle yung 
un’s,” said his wife, taking the 
child in her arms. 

Neither of them spoke as they 
walked along home. Their 
thoughts wandered back through 
the years to their little girl that 
died. 

“Whar’s the little thing a-gwine 
ter sleep?” asked the old roaii, as 


46 HELEN’S CHOICE 


they went in the one room of the 
house. 

“Do yer begin now yer ever- 
lastin’ worryin’, will ye, Bill 
Dooley? Guess I ken manage it 
somehow.” 

Bill hung up his slouched hat on 
a peg by the door, and sat down 
on a chair minus a back except one 
spoke; against this he rubbed his 
back, saying; 

“Thar’s a sight o’ them blamed 
skeeters down by the medder, 
’most et me up alive all the arter- 
noon.” 

MoUy made no reply but sat 


HELEN’S CHOICE 47, 

down in the one other chair of the 
room, which her husband, with 
masculine gallantry, always left 
for her to occupy. To be sure the 
original bottom had disappeared, 
except two or three rushes that 
hung down one corner which the 
little black kitten liked to pull and 
play with; but the back remained, 
also one rocker and part of an- 
other. A piece of a worn-out coat 
had been punched under the edge 
and firmly fastened to the frame 
of the chair-seat with tow string 
wound in and out, and a part of 
the lining from the same old coat 


48 HELEN’S CHOICE 

was made into a cushion stuffed 
with wild goose feathers she had 
saved from time to time. As 
Molly rocked to and fro, holding 
the child in her arms close to her 
breast, she unconsciously hummed 
a snatch of an old-time song she 
used to sing to her own baby, 
while the old chair creaked and 
squeaked an inharmonious accom- 
paniment. 

“My, oh my, but she’s pretty 
though!” she exclaimed, looking 
at the face of the sleeping child. 

“Let me hold her a spell, it’s 
mos’ supper time, ain’t it?” 


HELEN’S CHOICE 49 


“Yis, yis, I forgot; I wuz a 
thinkin’.” 

She got up and laid the ehild 
carefully in his arms, then busied 
herself preparing the evening 
meal. 

“What’s she goin’ to eat, 
Molly?” 

“I wish to the land you’d stop 
naggin’ of me. Guess I can man- 
age it!” snapped the wife. 

“Pork ain’t good for leetle folks, 
is it?” he inquired after a few 
minutes of silence. 

“Well I can jam up a biled 


50 HELEN’S CHOICE 

tater for her and soak bits o’ bread 
in tea, can’t I?” 

Just then beautiful blue eyes 
opened and looked around won- 
deringly; a little form straightened 
up, and a little voice cried out: 
“Mamma! Mamma! Where’s my 
mamma?” 

“Don’t be skairt, baby. Here, 
take a drink o’ water,” said the 
woman soothingly. 

“What’s she goin’ to set on, 
Molly,” inquired the old man, 
looking around the room with two 
chairs and a table. 

She took the child from his arms 


HELEN’S CHOICE 51 

and put it in her cushioned chair, 
saying, in a coaxing manner: 

“You’ll set there a little spell, 
won’t you? We’re going to hev 
sumthin’ to eat now, right away.” 

The little one understood and 
was quiet. Then the wife, go- 
ing over to her husband, laid her 
hand on his arm and said in a mild 
tone: 

“Bill, hev you forgot that leetle 
chair July Ann used ter set in? 
You go git it. You’ll find it in 
an ole big bag ’way under the attic 
eaves. I stowed it away ’cause I 
felt as if I couldn’t see it ’round. 


52 HELEN’S CHOICE 


You go fetch it down now, 
BiU.” 

The old man rose slowly and 
stood by his wife a minute; — ^his 
arm found its way around her, — ^he 
drew her head to his shoulder, and 
then kissed her cheek. 

“You hain’t kissed me afore, 
BUI, sence July Ann laid in her 
coffin!” 

The practical side of her nature 
so long dominant soon asserted 
itself and she said again: 

“You go fetch it down now. 
Bill! Supper’s all gettin’ cold I 
s’pose.” 


HELEN’S CHOICE 53 

As he mounted the ladder to the 
loft his wife stood watehing him 
and added: “It’s ’way in the nor’- 
west corner, an’ look out not to 
bump your head agin the rafters, 
it might stun ye!” 

He brought the little chair down 
and together they untied the string 
and took it from its long resting 
place in the old bag, with a rever- 
ent touch. 

Then Molly put the little girl in 
the chair and drew it to the table. 

“What’s she gwine to eat off of, 
Molly?” 

“You’ll find it wrapped up in 


S4 HELEN’S CHOICE 


brown paper in the cupboard on 
the top shelf.” 

“I can’t feel it,” he said, fum- 
bling around according to direc- 
tions. 

“It’s in the left-hand corner. 
Men can’t never find nothin’.” 

He brought it to light and 
watched her undo it from its wrap- 
pings. She put the little old tin 
plate, with the letters of the alpha- 
bet round the edge, in front of the 
little girl. 

“There now, what do you think 
o’ that?” 

The child took it in her little 


HELEN’S CHOICE 55 


hands and passed it toward the 
plate of steaming potatoes. 

“Yis, you shell hev some an’ all 
you want, too,” said Molly, fixing 
for her a generous supply. 

“This ’ere pork’s done to a T,” 
declared Bill, taking another slice 
from the platter. 

The unlooked-for compliment 
brought a blush of surprise and 
gratitude to her old wrinkled 
face. 

“Well, I orter know how to fry 
pork by this time. I’ve been at it 
long enough.” 

Billy trotted the little one on his 


56 HELEN’S CHOICE 


knee while his wife cleared the 
table and washed the dishes. 

“Whar’s she gwine to sleep, 
Molly?” asked the husband, as she 
covered the coals in the fire-place 
and took the pine knot to go to 
bed. 

“Yew du beat all, BiU, to wurry 
’bout things. She can sleep with 
us a while till I can fix up sumthin’, 
can’t she?” 

“I s’pose so, Molly.” 

“Guess I ken manage it some- 
how, Bill.” 

Many times in the days that fol- 


HELEN’S CHOICE 57 

lowed the little child asked: 
“Where’s my mamma?” 

“Your mamma can’t come,” was 
always the answer. 

“Why?” urged the child, and 
every time the reply was: 

“ ’Cause.” 


iVi 

TIMELY WOKDS 

Some men have the faculty of 
gaining the confidence of women. 
Beneath apparent coldness and a 
degree of reserve, gentle courtesies 
reveal a tender nature. They pos- 
sess an inborn charm of gracious- 
ness that pervades every word and 
action. Their purity of thought 
and life makes them capable of 
running far in a friendship with- 
out falling into any of the wonder- 
ful mixtures of semblance, all alike 
called love. Also their self-con- 
58 


HELEN’S CHOICE 59 


tained manner and high sense of 
propriety prevent any girl of pre- 
cipitous temperament or woman 
of ardent nature from a similar 
catastrophe. 

Such a man was pastor of the 
church in a little Long Island vil- 
lage. He knew the place by heart, 
and all the people, too. He went 
among them year in and year out, 
provoking no unfavorable criti- 
cism. On the contrary, he enjoyed 
the good will of everybody, won 
by his tact and discretion. 

In this village Mrs. Harvey 
came to live. Her physician per- 


60 HELEN’S CHOICE 


emptorily ordered a change. She 
was in too prostrate a condition to 
travel, so with Chloe she lived in 
quiet and isolation. She went no- 
where and would see nobody. Her 
heart was dead; was dead, though 
life went on and on. 

One day in the early fall Chloe 
brought a letter from the post- 
office. This is what it said: 

Dear Jennie: 

I am coming to see you, for old 
times’ sake, and I am going to 
stay a while, too, because I know 
you need me whether you want me 
or not. You see I am very diplo- 


HELEN’S CHOICE 61 


matic and write just as I am leav- 
ing town so you have no chance to 
send me word not to come. Ex- 
pect me Saturday afternoon. 

With all the affection of your 
early schoolmate. 

Huldah. 

When she came, and met her 
old friend, the first impulse was to 
exclaim, “Why, Jennie, I never 
should have known you!” But for 
once she took care to refrain from 
her usual out-spoken way, and 
sustained the conversation till bed- 
time with no apparent notice of 
the brief replies. 


62 HELEN’S CHOICE 

The next morning, as they 
finished a late breakfast, Huldah 
said: “Well we have just about 
time enough to get ready for 
church.” 

“I don’t go to church any more, 
Huldah; I don’t go anywhere.” 

“Why, Jennie, don’t go to 
church! Well, of course you will 
be polite enough to go with me. 
Come on, it’s time we started.” 

Without another word of dis- 
sent, Mrs. Harvey went up to her 
room and very soon afterward 
stood waiting in the hall for her 
friend. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 63 


Although Jennie’s was mueh the 
stronger charaeter of the two, yet 
Huldah from ehildhood seemed to 
understand how to manage her. 

The atmosphere of a chureh is 
as discernible as that in a home, 
and right away they both felt wel- 
come. Everybody seemed happy. 
The music was hearty and inspir- 
ing, the prayers earnest and uplift- 
ing. The sermon was about living 
for others. Among other things 
the minister said: 

‘Tt is not a matter of argument 
that we should find something to 
do for God, but of pure and simple 


64 HELEN’S CHOICE 


duty. It is a great privilege to 
be permitted to take a part in the 
grand enterprise of making this 
world better. Will you not be a 
co-worker with God to save souls? 
Give what you have of time, talent 
or money, but give something. 
You will have to be judged, as to 
your work, by yourself, when you 
die. 

“Some are striving to be strong 
though thronging cares press 
heavily upon them; these need help 
in kindly deeds. 

“Some are trpng to be faithful 
in the midst of bitter disappoint- 


HELEN’S CHOICE 65 


merit; can you not speak a friendly 
word that may comfort them? 

“To some, their plans of life are 
altered, and hope lies dead, and the 
bereft heart is paralyzed. .Yet 
there is something left; daily toil, 
something of health, a few friends, 
and life, — ^life is left. 

“From that which is gone let us 
turn from it, though with a cease- 
less, undying sorrow, let us with 
steady purpose look bravely for 
what is left for us to do, and un- 
falteringly try to do it. Life, — 
life is left, let us try to make the 
best of it.” 


66 HELEN’S CHOICE 


Mrs. Harvey said as they went 
home: “Huldah, that sermon was 
just what I needed to hear. I 
think I ean never get away from 
those words. They were timely 
words to me.” 


VII 

DISCLOSURES 

“Mah missus sez she reckon 
mebbe yo’s lak some des yere 
peaches, an’ she sed to tell you to 
do ’em up or they’ll git right 
squashy, ’cept the bestest un’s ’ll 
keep a spell for eatin’. Yas’m, 
Aunt Jemina, them peaches 
grow’d on li’l tree by the well. 
No’m! Nothin’ heerd f’um Massa 
Harvey goin’ on ’lebben ye-ers. 
Cert’ny is cur’us. He mus’ be 
drownded dead. Say, 'Aunt Je- 
67 


68 HELEN’S CHOICE 


mina, yo’ knows Mistah Phillipse, 
the preach-ah, don’ yo’? He , 
gits roun’ to our house right oifen. 

I reckon he shorely cortin’ mah 
missus. Las’ night uz I wuz car- 
rin’ a passel of dishes inter the 
dinin’-room, I jes’ peeked inter the 
parlor an’ I see the preachah a 
talkin’ to mah missus re-el earnes’. 
He cert’ny looked lak he meant it, 
an’ mah missus wuz kind o’ smilin’ 
an’ a cryin’ all togedder. Nebber 
did see missus luk jes’ dat way in 
all mah bawn days. I dassent stay 
to look no mo’, and I jes’ sneaked 
out the back door, an’ when I’se 


IIELEN’S CHOICE 6^ 


peekin’ roun’ one eorner of the 
po’ch I shorley see the preachah 
put a ring on missus’ forefinger. I 
guess they’re gwine to be mahr’ed 
shore. This lovin’ is eert’ny 
eur’us. Folks tak’s notions jes’ 
right away sometimes an’ don’ git 
over it. Now mah Sambo sez he 
lak me mo’ better’n any gal the 
berry fus’ tim’ he see me. I tole 
him ’twas jes’ nigger nonsense. 
Then he look lak he don’ want me 
for to argify wif him, so I didn’t 
say no mo’. I reekon the preachah 
an’ missus gwine to be mahr’ed, 
shore’s yo’ bawn. I ’clar’ to good- 


70 HELEN’S CHOICE 


ness, hope I ain’t tole nothin’ I 
hedn’t orter. I mus’ be gwine. 
Good mornin’.” 

This was told without interrup- 
tion, except as Chloe took breath. 
Aunt Jemina exclaimed; “You 
don’t say so!” 

Mrs. Harvey was surprised the 
next day while walking down the 
street, that old Mrs. Brown (who 
lived next house to Aunt Jemina) 
should look at her with a quizzical 
smile that seemed to say, “I know 
it!” Later she met Mrs. Hewlitt 
(next neighbor to Mrs. Brown), 
and a peculiar twinkle came in her 


HELEN’S CHOICE 71 


eye as they spoke together that 
seemed to say, “I know it.” 

Afterward, an old man living 
next to Mrs. Hewlitt came along; 
he gave her hand a firmer grasp 
than usual, saying, “God hless 
you!” while his eyes added, “I 
know it.” 


yiii 


THE KETUEN 

“Hallo, Lawyer Denton! How 
are you?” 

“Good evening, sir. Your face 
looks a little familiar, but you’ve 
got the best of me, for I can’t call 
you by name.” 

The first speaker had just 
stepped out of the stage coach, 
and, entering the parlor of the 
country inn, saw no one he knew 
among those waiting there except 
the person he addressed. 

“So you don’t know me! Have 
72 


HELEN’S CHOICE n 


you forgotten Henry Harvey, 
your seatmate in the distriet 
school?” 

“Why is this you, old fellow?. 
I’ll see if the stage brought me 
any letter, and then I’m going 
home and you come with me and 
we’ll talk over old times.” 

“Thank you, thank you, but I’m 
trying to find my wife. I learned 
she sold her city home and was liv- 
ing somewhere on the south side of 
Long Island.” 

“Yes, she lives about five miles 
from here; it is so dark, and rough 
traveling, no one would drive 


,74 HELEN’S CHOICE 


there to-night. Take the advice of 
a friend and wait till morning. I 
live only a little way from here, 
come home with me.” 

As they walked along to the 
house, Mr. Harvey said: “I sup- 
pose the baby is grown so I 
wouldn’t know her.” 

The lawyer was glad it was dark 
so his face would reveal no secrets 
as he answered: “Well, you know, 
years change us all.” 

At supper, and afterward, he 
kept the conversation drifting back 
to childhood days, and felt greatly 


HELEN’S CHOICE 75 


relieved when his guest retired to 
his room. 

“What a man doesn’t know 
about cannot trouble him,” said 
Lawyer Denton when he was alone 
with his wife. After a night’s 
sleep and breakfast he can better 
stand the revelations I shall have 
to make.” 

“I am thinking of his wife; she 
is so happy now,” meditated Mrs. 
Denton. 

“Well, everybody thought he 
must be dead.” 

“But how is this affair going to 
turn out?” 


76 HELEN’S ClIdiCL 


“We’ll see,” was the indefinite 
reply. 

The next morning, after break- 
fast, the two men seated them- 
selves on eaeh side of the big blaz- 
ing fire in the fire-plaee where a 
huge hiekory log gave out a 
genial warmth that bleak Decem- 
ber day. 

“I suppose I might as well tell 
you first as last, Harvey, that your 
wife is married again, and very 
happily married, too.” 

“Married again!” echoed the 
guest in dismay. 

“And the baby?” gasped the 


HELEN’S CHOICE 77 

man. “What about my daugh- 
ter?” 

“The baby must have been 
stolen, we think. Your wife was 
at ehureh and the servant left the 
child asleep on the porch to run to 
her home to get a dress, knowing 
she would get back before the baby 
would waken. When she returned 
the child was gone. And no one 
has since been able to find any clew 
to the mystery, although every- 
thing has been done that could be 
done.” 

“And that is all you know about 
the baby!” 


78 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“Yes, it is all anybody knows.” 

The disappointed man was 
speeehless. 

“I think the best thing is for 
me to drive over alone, and you 
wait here,” the lawyer sug- 
gested. 

“She is my wife and I want to 
see her,” replied Mr. Harvey in 
persistent tone. 

“But what if she does not want 
to see you? You don’t seem to 
realize how mueh anxiety and un- 
happiness you have eaused her. 
Not one word from you in so many 
years. It doesn’t seem to oceur to 


HELEN’S CHOICE 79 


you that her feelings may have 
changed toward you.” 

“Well, you see, lawyer, I got 
taken prisoner on board a pirate 
vessel, and, — and, — ” 

“Look, the carriage is waiting. 
I will hurry back, you stay here.” 

Reluctantly Mr. Harvey con- 
sented to abide by Lawyer Den- 
ton’s decision. 

On arriving at the parsonage, 
after salutations, preliminary re- 
marks, and inquiries about Mr. 
Phillipse, who was away at a 
church convention. Lawyer Den- 
ton said: 


80 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“Mrs. Phillipse, you remember 
Mr. Harvey and I were early 
schoolmates.” 

“Yes, Mr. Denton.” 

“May I ask if in all these years 
you never received any message or 
letter from him, or heard any 
rumor concerning his where- 
abouts?” 

“No, Mr. Denton. Did you 
ever get any letter from him?” 

“No, Mrs. Phillipse. If he 
should ever show up, would you 
want to see him?” 

“No, indeed,” she answered, 
firmly. “I endured so much with 


HELEN’S CHOICE 81 


Mr. Harvey after he took to drink, 
things that I could not tell, I could 
not speak of what I have been 
through, and it is best I should not 
think of it. The youthful affection 
I had for him was so wounded as 
to kill the very root of it, and only 
pity remains. No miracle could 
replace the old feeling of trust- 
fulness. If I could know he 
is alive I should not want to see 
him.” 

“Pardon, Mrs. Phillipse, my 
seeming inquisitiveness, but you 
know the conversation drifted 
along. I am in something of a 


82 HELEN’S CHOICE 


hurry, so I will bid you good 
morning.” 

When he returned to Mr. 
Harvey and told him what was 
said, the waiting man, without a 
word, rose, put on his coat and 
went toward the door. 

“Harvey, my friend, I’m sorry 
for you,” said the lawyer, shaking 
hands with him as they reached the 
piazza. 

Mr. Harvey put on his hat and, 
without speaking, bowed and went 
away. 


IX 

FOUND 

Several years passed, and again 
the school friends of other days 
were together. 

“Jennie, you said you could 
think of nothing that would espe- 
cially please Aunt Jemina for a 
Christmas present. About eight 
miles from here a young married 
woman named Mrs. Smith makes 
very pretty rag-rugs to sell, the 
colors are blended so well in the 
braiding.” 


83 


84 HELEN’S CHOICE 


“I am glad you spoke of it, 
Huldah, we will drive over there 
this very afternoon.” 

“This is the house, I think, Jen- 
nie,” said Huldah, as they drove 
along. 

“How neat and well kept every- 
thing looks,” observed Jennie. 

“And you’ll find Mrs. Smith a 
woman of charming appearance,” 
expressed her friend. 

“We have come to select a 
braided rug for a Christmas pres- 
ent to an old lady,” stated Huldah. 
“Have you still tha^ one with scar- 
let and lavender center and black 


HELEN’S CHOICE 85 

border that you showed me the 
other day?” 

“Yes, and I will show you two 
or three others I’ve made since,” 
replied Mrs. Smith. She returned 
from another room and, spread- 
ing the mats on the floor, said: 
“These are all I have on hand 
now.” 

“Which do you think Aunt Je- 
mina would like best?” inquired 
Huldah, looking up at her friend. 

But Jennie’s eyes were fastened 
upon the young woman, and the 
mats were unnoticed. 

“Pardon me, Mrs. Smith, may I 


86 HELEN’S CHOICE 


inquire what your name was be- 
fore you were married?” 

“Dooley,” replied the woman, 
somewhat surprised. 

“And might I ask your first 
name?” continued Mrs. Phillipse. 

“July Ann,” answered the wom- 
an. 

“Your face reminds me of a lit- 
tle baby I lost. Your eyes look 
just like hers.” 

“Did she die?” asked Mrs. 
Smith. 

Then the story of the lost baby 
was told her in broken voice. 


HELEN’S CHOICE 87 


“Tell me something of your life, 
please,” she added. 

“I grew up with daddy and 
mammy, the cat and the dog in a 
little house jiist in the edge of the 
woods,” Mrs. Smith related; “but 
a vision of a different home and a 
beautiful mamma I could never 
get out of my mind. After they 
died I went to live with a woman 
in the nearest village, and she 
taught me how to read, and other 
things. My husband worked for 
the same family, and after two 
years we were married. Just be- 
fore mammy died she told me I 


88 HELEN’S CHOICE 

was not her own child and sent me 
up in the attic for a bundle stowed 
away. She said in it were the 
clothes I had on when some 
captain left me on the beach and 
daddy brought me to her.” 

At mention of the captain, the 
remark made long years ago 
flashed across the mind of Mrs. 
Phillipse. “Perhaps Henry Har- 
vey stands in my way. I never 
liked that stripling, there’s an old 
grudge between us.” 

The state of excitement into 
which Mrs. Phillipse was thrown 
was pitiful when Mrs. Smith came 


HELEN’S CHOICE 89 

down stairs with the bundle, 
opened it, and spread it out on the 
table. At a glance the mother 
recognized the pink cape, little 
white bonnet, and clothes her baby 
had on when she kissed her good- 
bye as she lay in her little carriage 
that never-to-be-forgotten Sunday 
morning. 

“Oh, my precious child, my 
long-lost baby!” she cried, fold- 
ing the girlish form in her arms. 
Then she fell unconscious to the 
floor. 

“Where am I?” she said later, 
opening her eyes on the new sur- 


90 HELEN’S CHOICE 

roundings, as she lay on the 
lounge. “What has happened?” 

“I am your child, mother,” an- 
swered Mrs. Smith, kneeling by 
her. “I am your lost baby. See 
the little pink shoes and stockings, 
the little dress and clothes you 
made me, and the pretty pink 
cloak; see, mother, oh, I am so 
glad to know you are my mother!” 

“Let me look in your eyes 
again. Oh, yes! You are my 
baby, my darling baby. Hold me 
close, close; let me feel the touch 
of your fingers on my forehead. 
Oh, my child, my child, speak to 


•HELEN’S CHOICE 91 

me! Tell me it is not a dream. 
Let me look in your blue eyes 
again! lYes, I know, I feel sure 
you are my chUd, my very own, 
my darling blue-eyed baby. 
Thank God! Thank God!” 

When Mr. Smith came home at 
night he and Huldah decided Mrs. 
Phillipse must remain a day or 
two. So he sent a man and a mes- 
sage to Mr. Phillipse. The next 
evening the happy mother was able 
to talk with Mr. Smith. 

“Will you not give me my 
daughter,” she pleaded, “for a 
time to have all, all to myself? 


92 HELEN’S CHOICE 


She is so young to be a wife. Let 
me send her to school for two 
years, let her learn something of 
music and painting. You be her 
lover and after two years bring 
her to your home more accom- 
plished, and you would be proud 
to claim your wife.” 

“I am proud of her now. We 
might grow apart to do as you 
suggest. She is my wife and I 
want her with me." 

“Then both of you come. 
Come together,” entreated the 
mother. 

“It would be too far from my 


HELEN’S CHOICE 93 


business. You come here often, 
often as you like, and I will help 
you to give her advantages. You 
find a governess and music teacher, 
and I will see that good help in 
the house is provided so she may 
have time for self-improvement. 
My business is growing and I can 
afford it. ‘July Ann’ shall become 
‘Helen’ again, and I will be your 
son, if I may.” 

He was a manly fellow, “self- 
made” we say, and Mrs. Phillipse 
felt, after all, that his judgment in 
the matter was best. And, as the 
months rolled by, the little self- 


94 HELEN’S CHOICE 


improvement society of two, under 
Mrs. Phillipse’s direction, devel- 
oped quite as much as she expect- 
ed, and more. 


X 


A GLAD CHRISTMAS 

“Good mornin’, Aunt Jemina! 
Mah missus reckon mebbe yo’s lak 
dis yere mat fur yo’s front room 
an’ she wish yo’s a merry Christ- 
mas. Yas’m, plenty ’nough room, 
shore! Bigtuk-key! Yas’m, they 
all comes yis’erday. Massa Smith 
an’ Missus Helen and li’l Helen. 
Dinner’ll be set up at one o’clock. 
Missus sez yo’s mus’ shorely come 
over. Missus jes’ totes that li’l 
Helen ’roun’ ev’rywhar’ she goes. 
’Peers lak mah missus wuz nebber 
95 


96 HELEN’S CHOICE 


so happy in all her bawn days. 
The folks is all fixed up in their 
bestest clothes an’ missus got on 
a right new dress, an’ li’l Helen 
got on the berry dress her mother 
wuz stole away in. My laws, 
they’s all right glad, yas’m, all 
happy dis yere Christmas in that 
thar house, an’ they seems to think 
li’l Helen’s ’bout right. I ’clar 
to goodness, time that tuk-key was 
a restin’. Egypt Ian’, I mus’ be 
makin’ tracks for home. Yo’ come 
’long shore bime-by. Yas’m, an’ I 
wish yo’s a merry Christmas. 
Good mornin’!” 



OCT 2 1918 















